HC Deb 16 July 1998 vol 316 cc305-6W
Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current energy consumption of his Department; what targets have been set to reduce this level; and what plans he has for including energy efficiency performance figures in his Department's annual report. [50411]

Mr. Morley

The latest energy consumption figures available for the Ministry's main estate and its Laboratory Agencies is for 1996–97. It is:

kWh
Electricity Gas Oil Total
37,786,876 59,623,879 9,093,363 106,504,112

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) has set a Government-wide target to reduce energy consumption levels by 20 per cent. up to 31 March 2000 when compared with the base year of 1990–91. By 1996–97, the Ministry's main estate had achieved reductions in energy consumption of 14 per cent. and its Laboratory Agencies had achieved a 6 per cent. reduction. The Ministry will be submitting the annual returns for 1997–98 to DETR when asked to do so, which is expected to be around September.

The energy efficiency performance figures for 1996–97 were included in Chapter 7 of the Ministry's 1998 annual report which was published in April. MAFF's energy efficiency performance will be included in future annual reports.

Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of his Department's waste is recycled at present; and what targets have been set for increasing this. [50412]

Mr. Morley

Under the Department's action plan for green operations, there is a requirement on all our sites to minimise the generation of waste by encouraging recycling schemes and reusing materials. For example, many of our sites operate paper and other recycling schemes. So far we have not measured waste streams and set targets for waste reduction and recycling because of the practicalities of physically measuring the quantities of waste produced and the extent to which waste is recycled. However, this remains under consideration.

Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to discourage unnecessary car use by his Department's employees. [50414]

Mr. Morley

The Department has strict rules to ensure that travel on official business is authorised only when it is absolutely necessary and that cars are used only when they are the most cost effective method of travel.